Biography

Italian entrepreneur, the founder of the House of Gucci fashion empire. As a boy, he went to London where he got a job at the Hotel Savoy washing dishes, then waiting table. He closely observed the tailoring and style of the hotel's rich clients and when he returned to Florence, he began to work in the leather business. He spoke three languages fluently.

Guccio married Aida Calvelli on 10/20/1902. Aida was three years older than he and had a three-year-old child whose father was unknown; Guccio adopted the boy. Guccio and Aida had two sons, Aldo in 1905 and Rodolfo in 1912. He was a demanding father to his kids, domineering and stingy and a philanderer. Guccio started his business in 1920 and it was Aldo who later carried the House of Gucci to a world famous status and who later divided the empire with his brother Rodolfo.